BIFL boots/shoes for business casual AND 5-6 miles/day of walking??

Submitted by CapmBlondeBeard t3_yslwga in BuyItForLife

Hey all, looking for recommendations for shoes that can hang in a business setting, but won’t kill your feet after 5+ miles.

I currently wear Brooks and I look like a weirdo with khakis and a button down but my feet get destroyed if I wear other shoes. It’s pretty normal for me to walk over 5 miles in a day.

I like the look of leather since it looks professional but can dress down, but I’m really up for anything that looks good.

I live in California, so hot weather most of the time, doesn’t need to be waterproof.

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An_Alone_Wolf t1_iw04k0r wrote

Brookstone

Edit: Blundstone, had a brain fart there

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ashman1986 t1_iwbnmc7 wrote

I just got some Blundstone Chelsea boots and can confirm they are amazing. Quality is amazing, super comfortable too!

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Duckfoot2021 t1_iwlbjoy wrote

You can’t “dress up” Blundstones. I love mine, but OP needs something that can pass for office classy.

Look into Allen Edmonds. They’re about to have a big sale. Their Higgins Mill has several business acceptable looks and is a quality leather option that rebuildable and fairly durable.

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An_Alone_Wolf t1_iwm5lyl wrote

OP didn't say "dress up," he said "hang in a business setting" in California where he's currently wearing Brooks sneakers. He also mentioned walking 5+ miles in a day. Blundstones would satisfy those conditions for around $200. Allen Edmonds is overpriced garbage. The Higgins Mill wouldn't be up to the challenge of the amount of walking OP does and are priced at $475. OP would have busted shoes, sore feet, and no money very quickly. Your comment is bad and you should feel bad.

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Duckfoot2021 t1_iwmv0xl wrote

Quite a strong opinion you have there so I’ll share my thinking.

First, you can usually find a pair of Huggins Mills for around $250-300 if you check their sales/seconds page.

Second, I’m guessing you never owned a pair of Higgins Mills because I wear mine all the time and can do 10 miles without any foot pain at all. They’re recraftable while Blundstones are disposable and they look a heck of a lot more “business casual” regardless of state (I too live in Cali).

Third, I assumed he meant Brooks Brothers and not running shoes which is as far from business casual as you get. If the brand got tangled in interpretation maybe that’s my bad.

But in sum you’re wrong about HMs quality, comfort, price point and value and pushing a great but totally casual shoe as a business casual option that it’s not.

But hey, keep stating your cases aggressively, ignorantly, and arrogantly and I’m sure it’ll take you far. Xo

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Vvette45 t1_iw03gli wrote

The thorogood USA made boots are really comfy and durable. Good year welted and mine had held up several years so far and look brand new. They have some that are not as work boot looking.

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actionalley t1_iw15b79 wrote

Mine had serious signs of wear after only a couple months but I've worn them almost 2 years and they're still hanging in there. Can't decide if I'd buy again or not...

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Skika t1_iwagd58 wrote

Do you wash and treat them regularly?

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actionalley t1_iwanv60 wrote

Yep cleaned and oiled regularly until they got in real rough shape then it seemed pointless

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zombienudist t1_ivzrawl wrote

When you wear something other then brooks where is the pain on your feet?

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CapmBlondeBeard OP t1_iw02o6h wrote

Usually my heel, and oddly my lower back… I have no idea why but I’ve noticed the coincidence

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ICantSki t1_iw15cpe wrote

It all starts at the feet, it makes sense that your lower back hurts! Hopefully you can find something soon. I've enjoyed the Danners I've purchased in the past.

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MadRhetorik t1_iw0d212 wrote

I wear Thorogoods and I work on multiple railroads as a contractor. Holds up well too heavy use and comfortable even after 40+ straight hours of work.

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zyxwvu44 t1_iw1dr7o wrote

Ecco seem to be great for me, some have a super soft cushion heel (I recall Nike?) But I wore those daily for years and years before wfh.

If you want to get fancy....santoni. the most comfortable dress shoes I've worn, they just mold to your feet. Walked 40 mins a day in those to and from work plus actual work. Still going strong and just as comfortable.

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Expensive_Public3075 t1_iw1ilh1 wrote

If you want boots that will outlive you and be comfy as hell: Nicks, JK, Frank's, and Whites are all custom bootmakers in Spokane WA, they are mind blowingly durable and comfortable. Thoroughgoods are nice but mass-produced vs handmade. They make bulletproof casual/nice boots, I even wear my beat up work ones with nice jeans and button downs and they look great even after 4 years and 2000ish miles. Pricey but woth it.

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AndMarmaladeSkies t1_ivzo7e9 wrote

Clarks “desert boots” (chukka) fit that bill for me. The suede gum sole variety.

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LeeFamilyTree t1_iw2v2ly wrote

These are geat shoes, but definitley not BIFL. These will last a bit longer than the crepe soles, but neither are re-soleable. I love Clarks and have worn many (6 or 7 pairs over the past 23 years or so), but they don't last forever - hence why I've gone through that many pairs. If you want something closer to BIFL, find a pair of shoes with a Goodyear Welt Sole (preferrably made in USA/Canada/other places where workers are less exploited), maintain the leather, and bring to a cobbler as necessary for replacement soles.

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Muncie4 t1_iw5pebs wrote

Clark's Bushacre II. These are Clark's Desert Boots but the soles are the crepe but rather pressed and formed Nokia 3110s. The laces, however, suck ass and will break in 7 minutes, so they need to be swapped out at purchase for some waxed cotton.

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boneman429 t1_ivzxkv8 wrote

Brooks Beast is a great shoe; it would be pretty cool if they made one that looked like a normal shoe somehow. Rockports are also very comortable for being on your feet a lot.

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digitaleopardd t1_iw0g1dt wrote

I wear Brooks Addiction Walker shoes in black, they fit in just fine in most business environment (anywhere short of formal shirt and tie environment) and are designed for a lot of walking.

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tallulahQ t1_iw37l9l wrote

If your heels hurt, the problem is probably your arches (either high or flat footed). Barefoot shoes or orthotics are two competing solutions to choose from.

Barefoot shoes have thin, flexible soles, minimal cushion, no arch support, and wide toe boxes. The premise is that strengthening the weaker foot muscles (from wearing supportive shoes and heel lifts) will address pain by supporting your legs better.

Anya’s Reviews is great, I’d start here. Some people have found that transitioning improves pain from traditional shoes (that’s why I switched).

Otherwise if you don’t want to go the barefoot route, you can get a pair of custom orthotics made that will probably last for life (pretty pricey).

If your issue is comfort then you may need to sacrifice durability. Orthotics are more likely to be BIFL in that they can last a very very very long time (basically just molded plastic). Barefoot shoes are not BIFL, but the route is BIFL in that sense that it encourages using your own anatomy for walking, which can help your knees and hips in the long run.

Pro for orthotics is that they can go in any shoe. But pro for barefoot shoes is that even dress styles will feel like loungewear.

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chicagoPM t1_iw7u0wr wrote

Alden 403 or any other makeup from other retailers. The TruBalance last is really fantastic. People will whine about the leather board heels blah blah blah. They’re just fine. Get some factory seconds from The Shoe Mart for $400. I can wear mine all day without discomfort, the neocork sole is ridiculously long lasting and they easily pair with a pair of chinos for work.

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Healthy-Rise-2038 t1_iw8ikvp wrote

Advise from a cobbler. You want boots/shoes to last as long as possible. Bye Goodyear welted shoes. Rotate them out. Use shoe trees when not wearing them. And condition the leather ever 4-6 months. Polish only when stuffed.

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demet123 t1_iwokmbp wrote

I wear White's Semi-Dress virtually all the time, and if I need to dress them up, I get them polished (or do it myself). They're a bit outside usual business casual, but have a high quality feel, especially when cleaned and polished. They took some breaking in, but now fit like a glove and provide true support, not some padding that's going to wear out in a few months.

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